Smoothie bowl recipes: 35 healthy options to try | Well+Good (2024)

FAQs

What makes a smoothie bowl healthy? ›

Blending up fruit, yogurt, nut butter, 100 percent juice, milk, brewed tea and other smoothie staples can create a nutrient-filled concoction. Typical toppers like nuts and seeds only up the healthy ante by adding more nutrients.

As smoothie bowls are rich in fibre and natural sugars, it allows better digestion, improves satiety, and allows better absorption of all nutrients. It also improves bowel movements, prevents infections, boosts immunity as well as maintains a healthy heart and improves the quality of life.

The one trick that makes a Smoothie Bowl supremely thick and creamy? Using ONLY frozen fruit and veg. It's the magic key to an extra thick, smooth and creamy smoothie bowl with the perfect soft serve ice cream consistency.

Smoothie bowls are generally more nutrient dense compared to smoothies, and are thick enough to eat with a spoon rather than consumed through a straw. Smoothie bowls often incorporate frozen fruits, veggies, juices or milk, ice and even butters like peanut butter or almond butter for added protein.

Though the nutrient profile varies depending on the ingredients used, most acai bowls are high in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, manganese, and potassium.

Sounds pretty nutritious, right? Here's the catch. When you add all of the toppings suddenly your bowl of healthy goodness could easily contain over 500 calories and 40-90 grams of sugar. This is why consuming acai bowls should be an occasional indulgence not part of your everyday diet.

"In simple terms, an acai bowl is a very thick smoothie with toppings that you eat with a spoon," says Julie Harrington, RD, chef and co-author of The Healing Soup Cookbook.

Protein and fats will keep you fuller for longer whereas carbohydrates provide a shorter and sharper source of energy. So despite the caloric content, a balanced smoothie bowl should keep you full and satisfied until your next meal!

These include Vitamix, Hallde, Blendtec and Hamilton Beach. Our top commercial blender pick for making acai bowls is the Hallde VCB-32. Hallde is a Swedish made blender and can easily blend up to 4 or more bricks of acai per blend which makes it the perfect choice for busy establishments.

Are smoothie bowls healthy for you? ›

Smoothie bowls share a lot of the same health benefits as regular smoothies. “Most smoothies and smoothie bowls are inherently healthy due to the fact that they usually contain a lot of whole foods, but they are only as healthy as the individual ingredients that you put in them,” says Tori Wesszer, R.D.

"Smoothie bowls are essentially more nutrient-dense smoothies, thick enough to eat with a spoon and often topped with fruits, nuts, seeds, muesli or granola," explains McKel Hill, MS, RD, and creator of the plant-based, whole foods blog Nutrition Stripped. "Think of smoothie bowls as the new cereal -- like cereal 2.0."

Even the biggest smoothie aficionados need a little crunch sometimes, and making a smoothie bowl is the perfect way to beef up your favorite recipe. Add a low-sugar, high-protein granola and some nuts, nut butter or seeds along with your fruit toppings to help keep you full for hours on end.

A well-stocked fruit bowl offers a variety of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber essential for the growth and development of young children. By making fruits easily accessible, we can ensure that children have a higher chance of meeting their recommended daily fruit intake.

You don't need to confine your smoothie bowl to breakfast. “You can have a smoothie bowl as a pre-workout or post-workout meal by adding protein powder or whey protein.” But you can't use this as a meal replacement for lunch or dinner. “Have it as dessert post dinner but the quantity will be much smaller.

After a morning workout, a smoothie bowl is a great breakfast to eat. This healthy food gives you extra energy, allows your muscles to heal, and helps you remain awake all day. Smoothie bowls are a great way to start the day without feeling drained in the middle of it. You won't feel exhausted and lethargic.

Hot foods are sure to help decongest and provide comfort, but smoothies are an excellent way to provide nutrition if your appetite is low. Drinking a balanced smoothie can provide your body with adequate amounts of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to keep you energized while sick.